Long-running favourite Countdown is the latest series to drop its live studio audience following government advice relating to the spread of coronavirus.

The show, hosted by Nick Hewer, has been a staple of the Channel 4 schedule since its launch in 1982 but the new measures will mark the first time episodes have been filmed without an audience.

In recent days the UK government has advised that those most at risk of suffering the worst effects of the deadly disease, primarily people aged 70 or over, practice social distancing measures.

As a result Countdown - notoriously a favourite of older viewers and university students - has taken the decision to operate a closed set for the foreseeable future.

"Countdown bosses said they couldn't run the risk of having an audience so for the first time, filming will go ahead in an empty studio," a source told The Sun. "They believe it is still safe to continue filming the pool of contestants they are working with but it's likely their schedule will slow in the coming months."

Channel 5's The Jeremy Vine Show and ITV's Loose Women and Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway are also continuing production without studio audiences.